Numbers 19 8

Numbers 19:8 kjv

And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even.

Numbers 19:8 nkjv

And the one who burns it shall wash his clothes in water, bathe in water, and shall be unclean until evening.

Numbers 19:8 niv

The man who burns it must also wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he too will be unclean till evening.

Numbers 19:8 esv

The one who burns the heifer shall wash his clothes in water and bathe his body in water and shall be unclean until evening.

Numbers 19:8 nlt

The man who burns the animal must also wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and he, too, will remain unclean until evening.

Numbers 19 verses

Numbers 19 8 Meaning

Numbers 19:8 states that the person responsible for burning the red heifer, an essential act for preparing the water of purification, will themselves become ritually unclean. This impurity necessitates washing their clothes and body, and they will remain in this state of defilement until evening. This highlights the severe and pervasive nature of impurity associated with death, and the paradoxical reality that even those facilitating purification rituals would temporarily contract ritual uncleanness, underscoring the stringency of God's purity laws.

Numbers 19 8 Context

Numbers chapter 19 details the elaborate and unique ritual of the red heifer, whose ashes were necessary to create the "water of purification" for cleansing those defiled by a dead body. This verse specifically describes the paradoxical ritual impurity incurred by the individual who executes the central act of burning the heifer. Within the broader context of the Pentateuch, these purity laws highlight God's absolute holiness, His separation from death (the wages of sin), and the constant need for Israel to be ritually pure to maintain their relationship with a holy God in their midst. The entire process of the red heifer, including the temporary uncleanness of those involved, underscored the severity of sin and death's defilement, which necessitated a highly potent yet demanding means of cleansing, foreshadowing the ultimate perfect sacrifice of Christ.

Numbers 19 8 Word analysis

• And he that burns her: Refers to the man (Hebrew: הַשֹּׂרֵף֙, haśōrēp̄, lit. "the one who burns") who carries out the full combustion of the red heifer, after the priest officiates. This act, though divinely commanded for the preparation of holy ashes, temporarily transmits impurity. The verb 'śāraph' (שָׂרַף) implies thorough and complete incineration.

• shall wash his clothes in water: Signifies the need to cleanse external garments due to ritual contamination. The Hebrew 'kābaś' (כָּבַס) for wash implies a vigorous process, often involving treading or beating clothes. This shows defilement impacts things one wears.

• and he shall bathe his body in water: Indicates personal, direct physical defilement requiring a full-body cleansing. The Hebrew 'rāḥaṣ' (רָחַץ) specifies a comprehensive wash, signifying the internal absorption of impurity from contact.

• and shall be unclean: The Hebrew 'ṭāmē’' (טָמֵא). This denotes a state of ritual impurity or defilement, which is not moral sin, but renders a person unfit to participate in holy worship or contact holy things. It meant separation from the tabernacle community until cleansed.

• until the evening: The Hebrew phrase '‘ad hā-‘ereb' (עַד הָעֶרֶב). This is a standard biblical period for temporary ritual impurity. It signifies that the defilement is limited in duration, and purification is completed when the sun sets, ushering in a new day. This marked the boundary of defilement.

• Words-group by words-group analysis

  • "he that burns her shall wash his clothes... and bathe his body": This pairing of requirements for the same individual highlights the pervasive and contagious nature of the defilement. The physical contact with the heifer during the burning, though an act for purity, itself creates a temporary state of ritual impurity, demanding both external and internal cleansing. This underlines that nothing, except God Himself, is impervious to the taint of sin and death in the Old Covenant system.
  • "wash his clothes... and bathe his body... and shall be unclean": The sequence emphasizes the process: contamination occurs, a comprehensive cleansing is required (clothes and body), yet the state of "unclean" persists until a designated time. This shows that the impurity isn't instantly removed by the wash; rather, the wash is part of the purification process, the completion of which is marked by the passage of time.
  • "unclean until the evening": This fixed temporal boundary for the impurity distinguishes ritual impurity from permanent moral defilement. It underscores that God Himself sets the terms and limits for such conditions, demonstrating His authority over all states of purity and impurity. This temporary state prevents access to sacred space or persons, reinforcing the sacred boundary and God's holiness.

Numbers 19 8 Bonus section

The concept of ritual uncleanness applied to those preparing the red heifer, which was a "most holy" element, reveals God's meticulous nature regarding sacred boundaries. This paradox prevented any claim of inherent sanctity in the ritual's participants and underscored that its efficacy was solely derived from divine command and grace, not human purity. It taught humility, reminding even the dedicated ministers that they too were subject to God's law and its requirements for cleanness, and that complete, abiding purity comes from God alone. This distinction further reinforced the uniqueness of Israel's God and their rituals compared to pagan practices, where priests often sought to achieve ecstatic states of "purity" by human means.

Numbers 19 8 Commentary

Numbers 19:8 presents a striking paradox: the one involved in preparing the very substance meant to purify from death-related defilement becomes defiled himself. This principle underlines several profound truths. First, it vividly demonstrates the intense and contagious nature of death's impurity, the ultimate consequence of sin; its taint is so potent that even proximity to its ceremonial antidote renders one unclean. Second, it signifies the absolute holiness of God, indicating that no human endeavor, however commanded or ritualistic, can perfectly or automatically escape the corrupting effects of handling the issues of sin and death. This temporary uncleanness, resolved "until the evening," highlighted the limitations of the Mosaic system. These shadows pointed to the ultimate Messiah, Christ Jesus, who became sin for us (2 Cor 5:21), taking on a far deeper 'unclean' state through bearing our defilement on the cross, yet without sin Himself, to provide true and permanent cleansing. This serves as a vital reminder that our purification comes not from a ritual, but from Christ's singular, all-sufficient sacrifice, achieved through His willing participation in the depths of human sin's consequences.